AFTER 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GBV, WHO PICKS THE TORCH
Before I began writing this piece I thought that I should at least get to understand the history behind the 16 days of activism against gender based violence. So I embarked into the research and the little that I learned, I would like to share it with you as well.
It all began in November 25th, 1960 when three out of four sisters Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa Mirabal also known as the Mirabal Sisters were strangled and clubbed to death. Historic sources state that these three sisters were famously known for their activism and involvement in clandestine activities against the dictatorship that existed in the Dominican Republic at that particular time.
The deaths of the Mirabals sisters had a big effect to the people on the Dominicans and the world at large. They became symbols of hope and feminist resistance. And in commemoration of their deaths 25th November was later on declared to be the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women in Latin America in 1980. Then in June 1991, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership called for a global campaign of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Finally, in 1999 this international day was formally recognized by the United Nations.
As I said “three out of four sisters”, the fourth one (second in the lineage of birth) was Dedé who in the beginning had no interest in the political works of her sisters. But after the murder of her three sisters she decided to take care of 6 children that remained behind. And in between 1992 and 1994 Dedé started the Miribal Sisters Foundation and the Miribal Sisters museum to continue her sisters’ legacy, later on Dedé passed away of natural causes on 1st February 2014.
It’s the moral of this story that fascinates me more, how one of the sister’s decided to carry on what the others left behind. The Miribal sisters might have not known what their struggle would one day mean to the world but today the world knows the meaning of that struggle.
The Tanzanian national theme for this year is “end gender-based violence-change begins with me”. We at Gender Action Tanzania believe that the fight against gender-based violence is a fight for each and every one of us. In order to end gender-based violence change must be among each and every one of us regardless of gender, religion or race because we are all united by one element “Humanity”. We need to adopt the mindset that the fight is for all of us.
We have heard the horrific stories of victims of gender-based violence and we have been frustrated by the statistics of reports on gender-based violence. But what are we prepared to do about it?
Will we leave it to the victims and activists or will we continue the struggle of ending these tragic acts and make the world a better place for the current and future generations?
These questions are not for some of us but all of us. As we have concluded the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence on 10th December, who picks the torch and lighten the way towards eliminating gender-based violence?
I look at Dedé Mirabal and the Dominicans as individuals that decided to pick the torch and light the way for the world. And I ask each and every one of activists or not, let’s not to leave the torch to the activist and victims for 16 days but to pick the torch of ending gender-based violence till the end of it.
Before I started writing this piece it felt important to bring more answers and suggestions on what we can do to make the world free from gender-based violence. As I finish writing it I feel like I have left you with many questions than answers. It is because many answers have been made but what we are prepared to do about them is the question that remains.
Maria Teresa Maribal was once quoted saying “Perhaps what we have most near is death, but that idea does not frighten me. We shall continue the fight for what is just”. There are a thousand ways to interpret what she said, I leave you with the privilege of picking one.
Article Prepared by
Ken Edwin
kenedwin9@gmail.com
